The Italian Community Center (ICC) was founded to support Italian Americans and to enrich Milwaukee as a whole – a place where Italian culture and traditions come alive, and friendships are made. Created by Milwaukee’s Italian American community, the ICC welcomes everyone – those who have Italian roots and those who simply love the Italian culture and want to learn more.
Through year‑round cultural, educational, and charitable activities, the ICC celebrates the stories, values, and traditions passed down through generations. From cooking classes and language lessons to lectures, social gatherings, and cultural programs, the ICC helps people connect with their roots – or discover something new to love about Italy.
Each year, the ICC also organizes and hosts Festa Italiana, Milwaukee’s signature celebration of Italian culture, heritage, food, wine and entertainment, held at the Henry Maier Festival Park.
The Italian Community Center is a place where history is taught, memories are shared, and friends gather – the ICC must remain the center of the Italian community, filled with people of all ages spending time together and ensuring the preservation of all things Italian – to make sure this generation and the next appreciate the importance and beauty of speaking Italian, dancing and singing Italian, painting Italian and cooking Italian.
The Italian Community Center (ICC) of Milwaukee is an ethnic organization that was founded in 1978 to celebrate the heritage and culture of Wisconsin’s Italian American community. The most visible example of that is a summer festival known as Festa Italiana that features food, entertainment and cultural exhibits highlighting the Italian experience. The ICC strives to promote ethnic understanding and racial equality and, in its 60,000 square foot facility, has been a catalyst for renewal and rebirth of Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. The ICC is open to all people, regardless of race, creed or religion.
Student Immersion Day. Presented each October as a Culture Committee project, the program offers elementary or middle school students a hands-on opportunity to be introduced to Italian culture and history in an educational, yet fun way. The long-running program, coordinated and run entirely by volunteers, is part of the ICC’s annual celebration of Italian Heritage & Culture Month and has received high praise from the educational community.
ICC offers many educational and cultural programs for people of all ages and races. These include lectures by authors, historians and other people, folk dance programs, video presentations, and other activities. For many years, the ICC and Festa Italiana participated in the City of Festivals Parade. Over the last several years, the ICC has presented Italian culture at the Holiday Folk Fair at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
Donations. Throughout the years, the ICC and its members have made numerous charitable donations, such as: earthquake and tornado relief for the citizens in L’Aquila, Italy to Barneveld, Wisconsin; bulletproof vests for the Milwaukee Police Department; the Italian Immersion Program at Milwaukee’s Victory School for the Gifted & Talented; food pantries; the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Make-A-Wish, Alzheimer’s Association, Habitat for Humanity, the House of Peace, Ronald McDonald House, the Northcott Neighborhood House, and many others.